Tour evaluated the supposition that trainers can damage frames. They put strain gauges on the seat/chain stays and tubes and then took the bike for equivalent power/cadence sessions on the road and the trainer. Their conclusion: riding on the street actually deforms/flexes the frame more than riding on the trainer at similar power levels and cadences. It just looks like it’s flexing more against a stationary background.
I’m no shill for “Tour,” but I notice that in one year, German readers get real rolling resistance tests, real wind-tunnel test results, and real frame stress tests. What has our American “Bicycling” magazine done this year — someone wearing a HRM during sex. (seriously, they did that).
I know their “wind tunnel” tests were actually on a closed indoor track which is not the same to my understanding.
But the Germans are very smart people and I’m not surprised that their readers wouldn’t expect articles like you’ve described . Do you know if these articles are available online in English?
I found Tour online and did the google translation which leaves a lot to be desired. My German isn’t that good although I do speak a bit. Can’t find any of the articles you mentioned on the online mag.